Today's Current Affairs 16th April 2024

INTERNATIONAL

The United States and Japan are partnering to send a Japanese astronaut on a lunar mission to the Moon   

• President Joe Biden has declared that Japanese astronauts will partake in forthcoming National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) lunar missions, highlighting strengthened bonds between the United States (US) and Japan.
• In the future, two Japanese astronauts will join NASA's lunar missions, and one of them will become the first non-American to land on the Moon.

About United States:

President: Joe Biden

Capital: Washington, D.C

Currency: U.S. dollar

About Japan:

Prime Minister: Fumio Kishida

Capital: Tokyo

Currency: Japanese yen           

NATIONAL

The government told e-commerce to remove Bournvita and similar drinks from the 'health drinks' category

• The government has directed all e-commerce platforms to remove drinks like Bournvita from the health drinks category on their portals.
• "National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), a statutory body constituted under section (3) of the Commission of Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act 2005 after its inquiry under Section 14 of CRPC Act 2005 concluded that there is no 'health drink' defined under FSS Act 2006, rules and regulations submitted by FSSAI and Mondelez India Food Pvt Ltd," the Commerce and Industry Ministry said in an advisory to all e-commerce companies. 

India achieved a record addition of 18 GW in renewable energy capacity during FY24.

• In the fiscal year 2023-24, India recorded an unprecedented addition of 18.48 GW in renewable energy capacity, marking a remarkable 21% increase from the previous year's 15.27 GW, as per the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy's recent data.
• There is a need to add at least 50 GW of renewable energy capacity annually for the next six years to meet the ambitious target of 500 GW of renewables by 2030.

 APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Kristalina Georgieva secures a second term as IMF Chief before Spring Meetings

• The IMF's Executive Board has selected Kristalina Georgieva for a second consecutive 5-year term as IMF Managing Director, starting from October 1, 2024.
• The announcement was made just before IMF and World Bank spring meetings in Washington next week, which are expected to draw thousands of delegates, observers and journalists from the fund’s 190 member countries.

About IMF:

Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States

Managing Director: Kristalina Georgieva

Membership: 190 countries (189 UN countries and Kosovo)

Senior bureaucrat Vandita Kaul has been appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Posts

• In a noteworthy development, Vandita Kaul, a seasoned professional with extensive experience in financial services and banking, has been appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Posts. She will succeed Vineet Pandey upon his superannuation.

About India Post:

Established: 1 October 1854

Headquarters: New Delhi, Delhi

India Post is an Indian government-operated postal system in India and is the trade name of the Department of Post under the Ministry of Communications.

SPORTS

The Arjun-Jeevan duo has secured the Challenger crown

• In the finals of the $82,000 Challenger tennis tournament held in Cuernavaca, Mexico, the third-seeded duo of Arjun Kadhe and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan defeated the second-seeded team of Piotr Matuszewski and Matthew Romios with a score of 7-6(5), 6-4 to clinch the doubles title.
• The champion team collected $4665 and 75 ATP points.
• The runners-up got $2700 and 50 points.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

Pakistan Tops Asia with Highest Cost of Living and 25% Inflation Rate: Asian Development Bank"

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB), based in Manila, reported that Pakistan's inflation rate is projected to reach 25% in the current fiscal year (2024), which is the highest among all Asian countries.
• With this inflation rate, Pakistan has become the most expensive nation in Asia, surpassing its previous status as the highest in South Asia.
• The ADB's Asian Development Outlook forecasts a 15% inflation rate for Pakistan in the next fiscal year, which remains the highest among 46 countries.

About ADB:

Established: 1966

Headquarters: Manila, Philippines

President: Masatsugu Asakawa

Membership: 68 members, including 49 regional members (countries in Asia and the Pacific) and 19 non-regional members (countries outside the region)

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has introduced a premium payment option through WhatsApp  

• The prominent private life insurer, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance, has partnered with Meta (formerly Facebook) to launch premium payment options on WhatsApp.

About Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance:

Founded: 2001

Headquarters: Pune, Maharashtra

MD & CEO : Tarun Chugh